HR leaders are in an ideal position to foster an environment that supports work-life balance and employee wellbeing. Through tools, technology or strategies they can assist employees in finding balance between their professional and personal lives.
HR professionals need to address other elements of work-life balance as well. Not simply by telling employees not to check email after hours.
Employee Engagement
HR is responsible for engaging its workforce, and employee engagement is integral to creating work-life balance. Engaged employees tend to be more productive and satisfied with their jobs – their positive outlook has an immediate positive effect on business overall.
One way of engaging employees is implementing flexible working arrangements. This enables employees to plan their schedules more easily, helping them balance personal and family obligations more easily. In addition, companies should emphasize hiring those who find their job engaging as well as who fit well within the culture of the business.
HR can encourage employees to live healthy lifestyles by providing programs such as virtual fitness classes and sessions with financial advisors. Furthermore, they should encourage managers to be good role models by encouraging healthy work practices and creating an equitable work culture – by doing this HR can ensure their employees enjoy a high quality of life both inside and outside of work.
Employee Retention
Human Resources professionals help companies foster an environment that prioritizes employee wellness and productivity. Leaders may create social activities such as weekly soccer teams or yoga classes for employees to enjoy, provide mentors to assist employees through work-life challenges and provide them with mentors as mentors themselves.
Job Analysis is another crucial function, assessing employees’ skills, needs and potential in an organization. This involves creating job descriptions outlining responsibilities and qualifications of different roles before matching suitable people to each position.
HR departments are responsible for selecting and administering company benefits such as health insurance, profit sharing, retirement options, childcare facilities, gym memberships and flexible working hours. HR teams conduct surveys among employees to gauge which benefits are most appealing; recommendations may also be provided to leadership. Employee assistance programs (EAPs) provide counseling resources as well as personal support services to help employees face personal challenges more easily.
Employee Development
HR managers play an essential role in helping employees manage stress and anxiety in a work culture where employees bring their issues from home with them, understanding its sources and working closely with departments to address it.
Training and development opportunities can help employees to perform at their best, such as offering skills-based learning programs or offering strategic coaching/mentoring opportunities. Furthermore, financial wellbeing programs could also provide employees with access to financial planners or advisers for guidance.
Compensation and benefits are another area HR managers are charged with overseeing. This may include employee salaries, bonuses payments, vacation days, health insurance policies, profit sharing plans, long-term disability coverage policies and childcare facilities. It’s also their job to make sure company policies align with employment laws in order to avoid legal complications that might arise and can reduce employee absenteeism and boost morale.
Employee Wellness
Employer wellness programs have become an integral component of modern workplaces. They promote healthy lifestyles by covering healthcare costs and offering flexible work options; HR is often an instrumental element when executing these programs successfully.
HR leaders need to communicate the program clearly and compassionately if they want to engage employees with it, thus building a sense of belonging amongst employees and creating a culture which prioritizes wellness and inclusivity.
HR should provide tools and technologies that allow employees to prioritize their wellness. Time-tracking platforms such as Flair are great at helping employees maintain work-life balance by accurately recording hours worked, while mindfulness programs like virtual yoga classes, meditation sessions and workout groups help reduce stress while increasing morale – as well as having a direct effect on employer benefits costs by decreasing absenteeism and disability claims.
